WPF binding to static property

Just so I don't forget again, here's how it's done...

xmlns:ValueConverters="clr-namespace:ValueConverters;assembly=Controls"
xmlns:Services="clr-namespace:Infrastructure.Interface.Services;assembly=Infrastructure.Interface"

...

        <ValueConverters:BooleanToVisibilityConverter2 x:Key="booleanToVisibilityConverter2" />
    </ResourceDictionary>

</UserControl.Resources>

...

<StackPanel x:Name="MyStackPanel"
            Orientation="Vertical"
            Visibility="{Binding Source={x:Static Services:UserPreferencesService.Instance}, Path=UseWebAssignment, Converter={StaticResource booleanToVisibilityConverter2}, ConverterParameter=true}">

Fix for Icons in WPF being blurry

 

Just found this article on stack overflow about why our WPF icons appear blurry.

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5645274/image-in-wpf-getting-blurry

Turns out you can fix this by adding the following attached properties to your images

<Image Source="/LoginPanel;component/Icons/icoLogin.ico"
RenderOptions.BitmapScalingMode="NearestNeighbor"
RenderOptions.EdgeMode="Aliased"/>

Virtualization in WPF with VirtualizingStackPanel

First blogged about this on my previous blog site here

 

http://consultingblogs.emc.com/merrickchaffer/archive/2011/02/14/virtualization-in-wpf-with-virtualizingstackpanel.aspx

However, having come across this again today on a project, I thought it was important enough to re-blog!
Finally managed to figure out how to get virtualization to actually behave itself in a listbox wpf control.
Turns out that in order for Virtualization to work, you need three things satisfied.

1) Use a control that supports virtualization (e.g. list box or list view). (see Controls That Implement Performance Features section at bottom of this page for more info http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc716879.aspx#Controls )

2) Ensure that the ScrollViewer.CanContentScroll attached property is set to True on the containing list box / list view control.

3) Ensure that either the list box has a height set, or that it is contained within a parent Grid row, where that row definition has a height set (Height="*" will do if you want it to occupy the Client window height). Note: Do not use height=”Auto” as this will not work, as this instructs WPF to simply size the row to the height needed to fit all the items of the list box in, hence you do not get the vertical scroll bar appearing.

4) Ensure that there is no wrapping ScrollViewer control around the list box, as this will prevent virtualization from occuring.

 

5) Ensure that you use a VirtualizingStackPanel in the ItemsPanelTemplate for the ListBox.ItemsPanel

 

 

Example

<Grid Name="listBoxesGrid"
      Grid.Row="2">
  <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
    <ColumnDefinition/>
    <ColumnDefinition/>
    <ColumnDefinition/>
  </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
    <Grid.RowDefinitions>
        <RowDefinition Height="*"/>
    </Grid.RowDefinitions>

  <!-- Target Organizations listbox -->
  <ListBox Name="targetOrganizationsListBox"
           Grid.Column="0"
           HorizontalContentAlignment="Stretch"
           BorderThickness="0"
           Margin="5,10,15,2"
           ScrollViewer.HorizontalScrollBarVisibility="Disabled"
           ScrollViewer.CanContentScroll="True"
           VirtualizingStackPanel.IsVirtualizing="True"
           VirtualizingStackPanel.VirtualizationMode="Recycling"
           SelectionMode="Multiple"
           Width="Auto"
           Background="Transparent"
           ItemTemplate="{DynamicResource TargetOrgContactCard}"
           Height="Auto"
           Expander.MouseDoubleClick="targetOrganizationExpander_MouseDoubleClick"
                      Executed="OnAddToCallList" />
      <CommandBinding Command="local:SearchCoverageCommands.OpenCallDashboard"
                      Executed="OnOpenCallDashboard" />
      <CommandBinding Command="local:SearchCoverageCommands.AddComment"
                      Executed="OnAddComment" />
      <CommandBinding Command="local:SearchCoverageCommands.TargetCompanyChecked"
                      Executed="OnTargetCompanyChecked" />

    </ListBox.CommandBindings>
    <ListBox.ItemsPanel>
      <ItemsPanelTemplate>
          <VirtualizingStackPanel IsVirtualizing="True"
                                  VirtualizationMode="Recycling" />
      </ItemsPanelTemplate>
    </ListBox.ItemsPanel>
  </ListBox>

</Grid>

Tech days 2012 recorded sessions

Some great videos up here from the 2012 Microsoft tech days sessions in Belgium...

http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/TechDays/Techdays-2012-the-Netherlands

Microsoft Learning Resources

A really good set of videos up here to have a look at

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vcsharp/bb798022

Is XAML / Silverlight no longer?

Window 8 preview, seems to be based largely on HTML5 and JS...

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2011/jun11/06-01corporatenews.aspx

Binding to a constant in XAML WPF

Example...

Add this to your controls namespace declarations

xmlns:MyNameSpace="clr-namespace:MyNameSpace;assembly=MyAssembly"

then use it as follows in your markup

ToolTipService.ShowDuration="{x:Static MyNameSpace:MyClass.MY_CONSTANT}"